Head Strategic Initiatives & Foresight

ETH Zurich; Zürich; Vor Ort; CHF 150.000 - 210.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

ETH Zurich is seeking a high-calibre strategic leader to head its Strategic Foresight Hub within the Office of the President. You will lead a small, capable team at the intersection of strategy, foresight, and institutional development to anticipate challenges and shape decisions, mobilising expertise to turn thinking into action.

The role requires agile leadership, ability to navigate incomplete information, and a track record of delivering strategic impact in cross‑functional settings.

Qualifikationen

• Several years of professional experience in strategy, foresight, policy, management consulting, research or related fields.
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills with the ability to translate complex information into concise recommendations.
• Experience leading strategic projects and multidisciplinary teams in international environments.
• Excellent facilitation, communication and presentation skills; fluent English; German is an advantage.
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial mindset with ability to work across organizational boundaries.

Aufgaben

• Lead strategic initiatives on behalf of the President, addressing complex institutional challenges.
• Anticipate developments and assess implications for ETH Zurich.
• Shape strategic options and decision-making with analyses, scenarios and briefs.
• Mobilise expertise across ETH Zurich and coordinate task forces when needed.
• Design and lead institutional planning processes and support departmental planning.
• Advise on scoping and delivery of strategic projects for senior leadership.
• Develop and apply foresight methods and collaborative approaches for long-term thinking.
• Build an interdisciplinary community of future-oriented thinkers across ETH Zurich.

Kenntnisse

Strategy & foresight

Analytical thinking

Communication & facilitation

Leadership of teams

Stakeholder management

English & German language proficiency

Creative problem solving

Ausbildung

Doctorate (preferred)

Jobbeschreibung

Head Strategic Initiatives & Foresight

ETH Zürich Vacant since : 01.10.2026 Number of jobs : 1 8050 Zürich (ZH) 100% By agreement Permanent

Stellentitel Head Strategic Initiatives & Foresight Bereich Office of the President Einleitungstext Shape what comes next.

ETH Zurich is looking for an outstanding strategic thinker and leader to head its Strategic Foresight Hub (SFH) within the Office of the President. Leading a small, highly capable team, you will work at the intersection of strategy, foresight, analysis and institutional development – helping ETH Zurich anticipate emerging challenges and opportunities, shape strategic choices, and mobilise expertise to turn strategic thinking into action.

This is a role for someone who enjoys working on complex, cross-cutting and consequential questions, is comfortable operating with incomplete information, and can move seamlessly from analysis and reflection to action. The ideal candidate is agile, thrives in a fast-moving environment, and is able to lead and motivate a small, high-performing team while maintaining a strong strategic focus.

Head Strategic Initiatives & Foresight, 100%, permanent

Your Profile

We are looking for an intellectually curious, strategically minded and highly accomplished professional who combines analytical depth with sound judgement and a strong bias towards action.

You have

• A university degree, preferably at doctoral level, in a relevant field such as social sciences, economics, political science, science and technology, engineering, or a related discipline.
• Several years of professional experience in strategy, strategic planning, foresight, policy, management consulting, research, innovation, task forces or a comparable field.
• A proven ability to understand complex issues quickly, identify what matters, structure ambiguity and develop clear, evidence-based recommendations.
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills, combined with the ability to translate complex information into concise and compelling decision-making material.
• Experience in leading strategic projects and multidisciplinary teams, preferably in an international and intellectually demanding environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior leaders and diverse stakeholders, including academics, experts, institutional leaders and external partners.
• Excellent facilitation, communication and presentation skills, with outstanding written and verbal English; proficiency in German is an advantage.
• The confidence and agility to operate in situations where the questions are not yet clearly defined and where speed, discretion and sound judgement are essential.
• A collaborative and entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to build trust, mobilise people and get things done across organisational boundaries.
• A genuine interest in science, technology and the societal forces shaping the future, and in the role of a leading university in addressing complex global challenges.

Wir bieten

You will join the Office of the President of ETH Zurich at a particularly important moment in the institution's development. Working in close proximity to the President and the Executive Board, you will have the opportunity to engage with some of the most consequential strategic questions facing one of the world's leading universities.

You will lead a small team with a broad mandate and considerable autonomy, while drawing on the exceptional expertise of ETH Zurich's faculty, staff and international network.

The role offers a unique combination of strategic proximity, intellectual breadth, institutional impact and the opportunity to shape what comes next.

Neugierig? Sind wir auch.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives on behalf of the President, addressing complex, cross-cutting or time-critical institutional challenges and opportunities.
• Anticipate emerging developments, trends and disruptions and assess their implications for ETH Zurich.
• Shape strategic options, priorities and decision-making by developing analyses, scenarios, strategic briefs and actionable recommendations.
• Mobilise expertise from across ETH Zurich and beyond, assembling and coordinating temporary, purpose-driven task forces when required.
• Design and lead strategic planning processes at the institutional level and support strategic planning at the level of the Departments, Centres and other units.
• Advise the President and the Executive Board on the scoping and delivery of strategic projects, providing strategic, analytical and coordination support.
• Develop and apply foresight methods, strategic frameworks and collaborative approaches to support long-term institutional thinking and decision-making.
• Build and maintain an interdisciplinary community of future-oriented thinkers across ETH Zurich, including the Foresight Champions network.
• Develop and facilitate strategic workshops, foresight initiatives and leadership dialogues for the President, the Executive Board and the broader ETH community.
• Strengthen ETH Zurich’s strategic foresight capability and culture and contribute to its future-oriented thought leadership and institutional positioning.
• Lead, develop and inspire a small, high-performing team within the Office of the President.
• Depending on the nature of an assignment, you will move between different roles: strategist, analyst, facilitator, convener and orchestrator.
• You will not necessarily provide all the expertise required to solve a problem yourself; rather, you will know how to identify the right expertise, bring people together, structure the problem, create a productive process, and turn diverse perspectives into clear options and actionable outcomes.

• Work location 8050 Zürich (ZH)
• Workload 100%
• Employment start By agreement
• Employment duration Permanent

• Qualification skilled
• Work experience More than 3 years
• Education Doctorate from a university or equivalent

• English Orally : Very good knowledge Written : Very good knowledge
• German Orally : Very good knowledge Written : Very good knowledge

• By online Online form